When we think of Japanese fertility festivals, most people will think of the numerous phallic penis festivals — if they are aware of such festivals at all. Indeed, we have covered such festivals in his article. And why not? They’re fun, funny, and a good time for everyone! But while they are less numerous, there are festivals and shrines dedicated to the female form. So let us take you on a tour for anyone who want to indulge in venerating the vag or bigging up breasts.
Oagata Vagina Festival
Held in Inuyama, the same city as the Hounen penis festival, on the Sunday closest to March 15th, the same day as the Hounen penis festival, this celebration held at Oagata Shrine is, unsurprisingly, the counterpart to the male member centric event at Tagata Shrine.
The festival is a celebration of Tamahime-no-Mikoto, the legendary daughter of Oagata, the deity of the shrine. Tamahime-no-Mikoto is known as a Goddess of marriage, pregnancy, safe birth and happy conjugal life, and is considered to be a guardian of women.
As with many festivals in Japan, this one features a procession to the shrine, with the head of the march in this instance led by unmarried women dressed in their finery, with a large vulva float made from pink-colored mochi ricecake to bring good fortune to women looking to get married or have a safe, easy pregnancy.
This is one of the few areas in Japan that still has stones dotting the root that are cleft, that serve as yonic symbols marking the life-giving power of women. Sadly, during the Meiji-restoration, many of these stones were considered to be regressive and holding back the progress and modernization of the country, so they were removed or hidden from view.
There is even a small torii shrine gate just large enough for some people to fit through, that is likened by some to being born and emerging from the womb. Local superstition is that if you can fit yourself through the opening, you’ll be blessed with good luck!
Karube Shrine
In Okayama prefecture’s Soja city is a Shinto shrine that is dedicated to one thing only — or rather, two things. Dedicated to Chichigamisama, the Goddess of Breasts, Karube Shrine today is visited not only by tourists looking to titter at the boob-a-licious displays, but is also a place of serious pilgramage.
Founded in 1678, it was once the site of a cherry tree known as the “mother’s cherry tree,” and included the Chinese character for “breast.” It soon came to be known as a place for mothers to pray for safe births, help with breast feeding, or even recovery from breast cancer.
Today, this extends to the votive tokens, known as ema, on which visitors write their wish and tie it to a wall in the hopes that Chichigamisama will look favorably on them and grant their wishes. These can even be ordered online for those who cannot make the trek themselves in order to wish for their good health, the health of their children, or the third most popular wish… a bigger bust.
Mamma Kannon
But Shinto is just one of Japan’s major religions, and not to be outdone, there is also a Buddhist temple devoted to breasts. Legend has it that Mamma Kannon, in Komaki, Aichi-prefecture, was the site where a 17th century mother, unable to breastfeed her child, prayed to Thousand Armed Kannon, the Goddess’ aspect of compassion, and afterwards could feed her child with no difficulty.
Ever since, the temple has, like Kasube, been a Mecca for women seeking to find luck in childbirth, breast feeding, and raising strong children. It also sells booby-themed ema for people to use to pray for their health (or, again, for their chest to get expand). But it has gone in even harder when it comes to the imagery surrounding the holy site.
Even before you enter the temple, the chozuya purification station’s large water bowl is filled from two large lactating bosoms. Within the temple grounds, the incense burner is topped with a pair of breasts, and even the exterior of the temple is adorned with two evocatively shaped circles with dots in their centre.
In Summary
For various reasons, there are far fewer breast or vagina festivals or places of worship in Japan than are dedicated to men’s genitalia. However, if you know where to look and in some cases where to go, you will still be able to feel the presence of the divine feminine.
